Labour donor Vince rescues London newspapers two years after Observer bid

The multimillionaire entrepreneur and Labour donor Dale Vince is providing a "rescue" funding package to a trio of central London newspapers, nearly two years after he was thwarted in a bid to buy The Observer.

Sky News has learnt that Mr Vince has agreed to inject an unspecified sum into the group behind the Camden New Journal, Islington Tribune and Westminster Extra.

The loss-making titles, which are owned by the company's staff as a co-operative, are among a dwindling number of local newspapers in London, with the city's principal general news outlet - the Evening Standard - having been revamped as a weekly feature-led print title in recent years.

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Mr Vince is said to be planning to invest in the Camden New Journal and its sister titles to ensure their survival, although the precise ownership structure was unclear on Wednesday.

Responding to an enquiry from Sky News, he said: "I greatly admire the journalism at the Camden New Journal series and want to do everything in my power to help secure the future of the journalists who go above and beyond to ensure London is properly served with news that has campaigning and investigative reporting at its heart.

"Regional newspapers are the bedrock of our democracy, and I would like to play my part in helping ensure that this long tradition is preserved.

"The Camden group of newspapers is long established and much loved, and I very much hope that all those who value its contribution will continue to support its fine work.

"Providing news and information is an expensive business and I hope individuals and advertisers will join me in efforts to ensure the CNJ's long-term existence and meet the needs of its digital readers.

"The staff are exceptional and I very much want them to continue in their fine tradition that has been established over decades."

Mr Vince, who founded the green energy company Ecotricity, has long been an outspoken commentator on energy policy but has recently become increasingly vocal on other subjects of political and social importance in Britain.

This week, it was reported that the Treasury was seriously considering a proposal from Mr Vince to bring capital gains tax into line with the top rate of income tax.

Mr Vince was a serious contender to buy The Observer in 2024 when it was put up for sale by Guardian Media Group, with the world's oldest Sunday newspaper instead being offloaded to the news and current affairs start-up Tortoise Media.

He has since launched Babelfish, a quarterly print publication targeted at policymakers which he said last year was "designed to make sense of the nonsense" he said had engulfed the biggest challenges facing Britain.

The Camden New Journal, which serves the constituency being vacated by Sir Keir Starmer, the former prime minister, was founded in 1982 by Eric Gordon following a 15-month-long strike triggered by the closure of its predecessor, the Camden Journal.

Mr Gordon, who led the newspaper until his death aged 89 in 2021, led the newspaper with the motto: "Open to all and coerced by none."

The titles in the CNJ portfolio are now edited by Richard Osley, whose senior editorial team include deputy editor Tom Foot and senior reporter Dan Carrier.

"Our discussions with Dale and his team have opened up an exciting opportunity to protect what we do and expand our contribution," Mr Osley said.

"That includes the hope of creating more opportunities for reporters from underrepresented backgrounds, building our capacity for investigations, and strengthening our online offering - more stories, more scrutiny.

"We'd like to be an inspiration to local journalists around the country who have the drive to hold power to account.

He added: "Our staff would not enter a partnership lightly; we were not open to any offer - but we have seen that Dale's team understand the importance of a more plural media landscape, and of creating spaces where local and national conversations can encompass wide-ranging views."

(c) Sky News 2026: Labour donor Vince rescues London newspapers two years after Observer bid